Klass on being a doctor

Dr. Griffin we discussed the power of language after class on Tuesday, and additionally you asked me a few questions based on Klass' paper and my response to her paper. One of the questions that stuck with me was, "What did Klass mean when she said, '... you move closer and closer to being a doctor instead of just talking like one'?"

I do not believe that Klass meant the language by itself changes you, rather i think that she means that the language and its use develop in parallel to your experience as a doctor. As a young doctor becomes more experienced, and moves past the honeymoon phase of their career they go from being the person who would not try and distance themselves from their patience to a doctor who feels a need to do so. Additionally while they are developing as a young doctor they are picking up this new language, which they will have mastered before they feel a direct need to put it to use.

I do not think Klass necessarily views it in a positive light, but i do think she recognizes that the personality change that allows a doctor to start intentionally distancing themselves from patience is part of becoming a doctor. Her phrasing made me think of a rite of passage type event, in which you have finished your training, but the actual application of it has yet to be shown, until you realize that need to be distanced from your patience.

Assuming this is what Klass meant I am not sure I agree with her on the need for distance between the patient and the doctor. It sticks with me that for the doctor and patient to be successful at fighting off the ailment, the doctor will need the patient's cooperation in many cases. I think trying to put distance between the patient and doctor will only breed additional cases of non-compliance. I think instead of seeing the doctor as the cure for the disease it might be better to relate the doctor as a teacher to the patient who is learning to cure their ailment. This doctor as a teacher concept has the advantage of making it clear the need for a closeness between the doctor and patient. I don't think anyone would contest that in general more is learned from smaller classes, because the professor is more readily available for questions. Viewing the relationship between doctor-patient as a teacher-student relationship also has the advantage of reminding the patient that the doctor is an authority to be respected.

klass

Klass's essay, "The Language of Doctors", helps us look at two sides of language in the area of medicine. Klass states 4 reasons why the language exists, and makes the connection between learning to speak the language and the concerns that such language carries with it. Explain the 4 reasons why the language exists, according to Klass, and evaluate the benefits and the drawbacks of such language. Consider both the patient's perspective and the doctor's perspective.